Based on best-selling author Alice Sebold’s book The Lovely Bones, director Peter Jackson (director of King Kong and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy), has taken on the challenge of bringing a movie version to life. The Lovely Bones depicts the story of a 14-year-old girl who watches over her family and her murderer from the afterlife.

In Sebold’s book, she greatly details the murder, and this concerned both the actors and the filmmakers of the movie. To appeal to younger viewers Jackson excludes the graphic murder and quickly continues with the story line.

As the movie begins, The Lovely Bones appears as a stereotypical movie about the life of a teenager, but the tables quickly turns. Immediately, Susie Salmon (Oscar nominee Saorise Ronan) explains what happened to her on Dec. 6, 1973 without revealing the specifics of her death and the murderer.

According to Sebold, when a person dies, they do not immediately go to heaven until they relinquish their earthy lives, but live in the “in-between.” This place consists of heavenly and earthly elements, both perfect and morbid.

With the loss of their beloved daughter, Jack (Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg) and his wife Abigail Salmon (Oscar winner Rachel Weisz) each deal with Susie’s death differently. To get over his depression, Jack continues to look for his daughter’s killer long after the police abandon the investigation, while in the meantime his wife falls apart emotionally.

Susie’s father and younger brother realize that Susie is still with them and will reside in the “in-between” until her murderer is found.

Movies containing a child’s death are often extremely difficult for actors and filmmakers. However, the actors still pulled off a believable performance, including both Wahlberg and Weisz who did a superb job in their roles. Meanwhile, Ronan remarkably illustrated a girl with a lost soul.

One of of the qualms I had with the movie it that it is hard to distinguish when Susie is killed. At one moment she is alive, running through the town, and the next, she is dead.

I finally figured out that Susie had perished when she appeared in the “in-between” and the scenes would periodically change from one place to the next and contained large inanimate objects. It was not until halfway into the movie before I was able to clearly identify between both worlds.

During the movie I did my best to pay attention, but there were times when I was completely lost. Even though this movie was entertaining, I think it would be better as a movie rental instead of spending money at the movies; simply because the plot is confusing and may require a few viewings before a complete understanding.

Overall, The Lovely Bones presents multiple messages including hope, love and self-protection. Despite its confusing moments, the movie’s overall themes are worth a trip to the theater.

The Lovely Bones, rated PG-13 for disturbing violence and language, is playing in most local theaters. For tickets and showtimes, visit Fandango. For more reviews, check out Rotten Tomatoes.